St. Luke's seeks donations and volunteers for Wreaths Across America at Resurrection Cemetery

THE MORNING CALL / FILE PHOTO

Nicholas Girou salutes after placing a wreath Cedar Hill Memorial Park in Allentown as part of Wreaths Across America in 2016.

Nicholas Girou salutes after placing a wreath Cedar Hill Memorial Park in Allentown as part of Wreaths Across America in 2016. (THE MORNING CALL / FILE PHOTO)

Morning Call staff

St. Luke’s Allentown Campus is raising money to lay 1,500 wreaths at Resurrection Cemetery in Wescosville as part of National Wreaths Across America Day.

Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit founded in 1992 and based in Maine, promotes the laying of wreaths on veterans graves each December, to “Remember, Honor, Teach,” St. Luke’s noted in a news release.

This year’s event at Resurrection Cemetery will be at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15. Cedar Hill Memorial Park in Allentown also participates in Wreaths Across America as do other cemeteries in the region, across the country and abroad.

St. Luke’s Allentown Campus is asking for money to buy wreaths, and for veterans and relatives of service members who were taken prisoner or missing in action to participate in the ceremony. Children of veterans and St. Luke’s employees are invited to speak about “What a veteran means to me.” And anyone is welcome to lay wreaths and coordinate traffic at the cemetery.

Those wishing to volunteer should call 866-STLUKES.

“Our goal is to recognize every veteran at rest in Resurrection Cemetery,” said Robert Smith, St. Luke’s Hospital Allentown Campus safety & security manager. “There are almost 1,500 veterans’ gravesites at Resurrection. This event brings the community together to remember our veterans. Friends, family and grateful citizens can all participate. Donate a wreath or join in the ceremony. Everyone can be a part of the moving day.”

Wreath sponsorships are $15 and can be made generally or in the name of a specific person who served, St. Luke’s said. Donations are requested by Nov. 30 through donate.wreathsacrossameria.org. Flag-bearing wreaths honoring the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Merchant Marines and Pow/MIA will be provided by Wreaths Across America.

St. Luke’s Hospital Allentown Campus is taking over coordination of the event from Air Products in Trexlertown, which had handled it since 2012, the release noted. Other groups participating include veterans’ organizations, Boy Scouts of America and Knights of Columbus